DISMISSALS PROM N.Z.R.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 15, 19 January 1931, Page 6

DISMISSALS PROM N.Z.R.

No one who is familiar with the laboursaving machinery introduced into the railway workshops in thie past five years will be surprised at the number of workmen dismissed from the different -works. What is surprising, however, is that an M.P. should ask tihe Minister of Railways to retain those men who can be dispensed with, eo that the unemploy-' ment position would not be made any worse. If Mr. Savage, MvP., is correct, then it would be good business to engage and pay at railway rates of pay a few thousand more workmen than what are required. Unfortunately, this policy was tried out by Mr. Coates, who admitted having 2500 men on the N.Z.E. more than were required, and with what disastrous results we are all too familiar. That 2500 are mainly the reason for dismissals by the present Minister, but who can advocate paying men full railway pay if their services are unnecessary? Mr. Veitch made a very good offer to the railway servants a few months ago, namely, the rationing of work,, but that was turned down by the railway executive, and if some of that committee are among the dismissals, then they are reaping the reward of their own selfishness. If men are to be dismissed the ballot should be used, and, to be absolutely fair, all railway servants dis--missed during the past six months should participate in the ballot. Wellington tramway, employees were big enough to prefer losing one half a day each week to some of their number being put off, but Ohristchurch tramway employees were not so generous, and probably twenty-eight men will be turned out to add to the unemployed army, but there, too, I guess, the result would have been otherwise if the ballot were used to decide on the unlucky members. The whole system of unionism is in the melting pot, and I consider the suggestion of Mr. Savage, M.P., is in no way calculated to improve matters. Ohakune. RAILWAY CASUAL.